We mined the Clarence for a heart of gold, searching for stories. These excellent writers will be published in Stories From the Clarence Valley 2025 – Heart of Gold. We’ll announce the winners at the book launch on 9th December at Grafton Regional Gallery. The Long Way Home’s job is to unearth new writers. This year we’ve uncovered the beating, gleaming heart of the Clarence. Thankyou everyone for sending us your stories!
Open section
Beth Keevers A PRECIOUS CUT
Gaye Sprenglewski, TWO DOORS UP
Gra Murdoch, BROKEN STRINGS
Jo Parry, TELL IT TO THE BEES
Kate Begbie, HEART OF GOLD
Kestrel Howard, ALLUVIAL GOLD
Kylie Rainbow, DOWNPOUR
Loueen Winters, THE GIFT
Maggie McDade, SUNDAY MORNING
Meg Rowe, FOOL’S GOLD
Nadia Smith, THE YELLOW BIRD
Norm Mjadwesch, DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
Sonia Reid, WE’LL MEET AGAIN
Suzanne Barnier, WAGGING SCHOOL
Tennille Pillemer, THE LONG WAY HOME
High school section
Flynn Crowley, ALONE, Year 7, McAuley Catholic College
Elsie Stewart, MOUSE, Year 10, Grafton High
Ada Sage, THE ART OF BEING BROKEN, Year 12, Home Educated
Eamon Mawn, THE ART OF THE BUCCANEERS, Year 8, Maclean High
Evie Rae, FIELDS OF GOLD, Year 8, Maclean High
Sebastian Hassett, THE TOWN OF GOLDEN HEARTS, Year 8, Home Educated
Talia Duckworth, HEART OF GOLD, Year 11, Home Educated
Primary school section
Charlotte Bolch, HEART OF GOLD, Year 4, Nymboida Public
Harper Dendle-Palmer , RIVERBANK WALK , Year 6, Grafton Public
Fionn Mawn, THE HEART OF THE CLARENCE, Year 6, St James’ Primary
Gracie King, HEART OF GOLD, Year 4, Maclean Primary
Ruby Grimshaw, HEART OF GOLD, Year 5, Grafton Public
Frankie Watters, BEST FRIEND, Year 3, Copmanhurst Primary
Wolfgang Crofts, SHINING SMILE, Year 1, Cowper Primary
Declan Mawn, HEART OF GOLD, Year 4, St James’ Primary
Isla Anderson, A HORSE WITH A HEART OF GOLD, Year 5, Clarence Valley Anglican
Hannah Black, A MOMENT IN TIME, Year 4, Gulmarrad Public
Catherine Davies, HEART OF GOLD, Year 6, Grafton Public
Travis Kratz, THE UN-HEARTBREAKER, Year 5, Grafton Public
Bodhi Beresford, HEART OF GOLD, Year 2, Gulmarrad Public
Keilyh Turner, HEART OF GOLD, Year 3, Harwood Public
Grace Littlechild , HEART OF GOLD, Year 4, Maclean Public
Jackson Donovan, A HEART OF GOLD, Year 4, South Grafton Public
Jax Coffison, HEART OF GOLD, Year 4, Nymboida Public
Brianna Outram, HEART OF GOLD, Year 6, Grafton Public
Valin Skerry, THE CAPTAIN’S LAST TREASURE, Year 6, South Grafton Public
Nixon Perry, THE GOLDEN DOLPHIN, Year 5, St James’ Primary
Kade Worthington, APPRECIATION, Year 6, Grafton Public
Zephyr Helman, THE END OF THE WORLD, Year 4, Nymboida Public
Ollie Rodda, A HEART OF GOLD, Year 5, South Grafton Public
Shiloh Tapp, HEART OF GOLD, Year 5, Grafton Public
Spencer O’Range, HEART OF GOLD, Year 5, St Mary’s Primary
Rebecca Oppenheimer, THE TWILIGHT SKY, Year 3, Gulmarrad Public
Albie Granleese, A HEART OF GOLD, Year 6, South Grafton Public
Alina Maleschka-Dawe, HEART OF GOLD, Year 6, Grafton Public
Ava O’Brien, HEART OF GOLD, ULURU, Year 6, South Grafton Public
Charlee Abraham, MY HORSE HOLLY, Year 4, Copmanhurst Primary
Ella Carolan, A GOLDEN DOLPHIN, Year 6, St James’ Primary
Archie Barber, THE HEIST, Year 6, Grafton Public
Jensen Homewood, CATCH AND RELEASE, Year 6, St James’ Primary
Matilda Cook, A HEART OF GOLD, Year 4, South Grafton Public
Ralph Uebergang, FRED’S FIRST HAUL, Year 5, St James’ Primary Yamba
Max Black, A GOLDEN CHANCE, Year 2, Gulmarrad Public
Ashton Miller, A WALLABY’S HEART, Year 6, St James’ Primary
Jack Armstrong, FISH AND CHIPS, Year K, Tucabia Public
Charlotte Parry-Jones, WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, Year 6, St Joseph’s Primary
Tiarni Benn, THE BRONZE ROBOT’S SACRIFICE, Year 6 , South Grafton Public
Remi Bentley, HEART OF GOLD, Year 6, St Mary’s Primary
Pearl Ryan, MY MUM’S HEART OF GOLD, Kindergarten, Tucabia Public
Remi Murphy, A DRAGON’S WORK, Year 5, St James’ Primary
McKinley Harris, HEART OF GOLD, Year 4, St Mary’s Primary
Mercy Allsop, HEART OF GOLD, Year 2, Tucabia Public
Penelope Ingram Malone, A HEART OF GOLD, Year 3, Yamba Public
Congratulations to all!
The Long Way Home 